Outstanding Contribution Recognised at Great Yorkshire Show
The man behind one of the region’s most successful farm machinery suppliers has been presented with a top award by Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
The Society and Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) make an award each year to the individual who has made the most outstanding contribution to the Yorkshire rural community and this year’s went to Paul Russell, Managing Director of Russells.
The Russell family has been serving the Yorkshire farming community since 1849 when George Russell the son of a blacksmith began designing and manufacturing horse drawn ploughs, harrows, and seed drills at premises in the Village of Great Edstone. For the next 137 years the family would be involved in the development, design, and manufacture of award-winning farm machinery for both the home and export market. The manufacturing side of the business operated alongside a retail operation based at Kirbymoorside with the business employing over 140 staff.
Russell’s currently represents more than 30 industry leading machinery manufacturers in the agricultural, ground care and construction sectors, employing more than 225 people. The business operates from twelve depots and is also heavily involved in community and charity work.
Its dedicated staff regularly organise events such as village fetes, tractor road runs, ploughing matches, and dynamometer days to raise money for charity. To celebrate 100 years of trading as a limited company a commemorative model tractor was produced and sold, raising more than £15,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Paul is the eighth generation of the family to run Russells and has been at the helm of the business since 2001. He is a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Council on the Trade Stand and Audit and Investment committees, past Chair of the Remuneration Committee, and past Trustee.
Allister Nixon, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “Russell’s have been exhibiting at the Great Yorkshire Show for over 100 years and Paul is always happy to help provide machinery at our events to help in the Society’s mission to educate and promote agriculture to children and families across the region”.
The Great Yorkshire Show has become a four-day event after a raft of changes were implemented at the 2021 show due to Covid 19 regulations.
Tickets for the show have now sold out. Tickets will not be available on the gate. The opening times are 8am to 6pm on all four days. To see what is happening on which day, go to: https://greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/whats-on/
EDITOR’S NOTES
• The Great Yorkshire Show is England’s premier agricultural event, organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), a registered charity supporting rural Yorkshire.
• YAS supports and promotes the farming industry through health care, business, education and scientific research.
• The Society is supported by its family of businesses including Fodder, Yorkshire Event Centre, Pavilions of Harrogate and the Harrogate Caravan Park as well as events Great Yorkshire Show and Springtime Live.
• Businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in 2019 contributed £73.7 million to the economy.
CONTACT: Jo Francisco PR Manager
Mobile: 07954 007414
Email: jof@yas.co.uk
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Paul Russell
